Container lid mounting and sealing system

Abstract

An automated lid mounting and sealing apparatus for containers comprised of a conveyor belt, a lid dispenser to feed lids one at a time as a container passes by on the conveyor belt; a lid mounting press belt, a lid closure section for closing a tear band on the lid and a lid sealing section for sealing a tamper resistant device around the lid. The lid dispenser drops a lid into a chute to be withdrawn as each container passes the dispenser. The container with the lid then passes beneath a press belt that snaps the lid in place on the container. A tear strip band on the lid is then folded under the lid and rim by a closure section. In an optional embodiment the closure section is not used and a plastic shrink band seal is placed on top of the container around the lid. Heat is then applied in a sealing section as the container is rotated to secure the tamper resistant protective device around the lid and container.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lid dispensing, mounting and sealing system comprising: lid dispensing means for sequentially releasing lids one at a time;   conveyor means conveying lids past said lid dispensing means to receive each lid dispensed;   sensing means in said lid dispensing means sensing the removal of each lid and initiating the release of another lid;   mounting means for securely mounting said dispensed lid on said container;   heat sealing means for heating and sealing a tamper resistant means to seal said lid on said container.   
     
     
       2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said lid dispensing means comprises; means for stacking a plurality of lids; means for sequentially releasing a single lid; and means for holding said stack of a plurality of lids while a single lid is released. 
     
     
       3. The system according to claim 2 in which said means for holding a stack of lids while a lid is released comprises; a plurality of posts, said posts having a plurality of serrations around a portion of each post; a sectional blade mounted at the bottom of each post forming a shelf, a portion of each of said posts having a set back diameter; said sectional blades being at the end of said set back portion of said posts; whereby said stack of lids are supported by said shelf during a portion of the rotation of said plurality of posts and are supported by said serrations during the remainder of each revolution of said posts. 
     
     
       4. The system according to claim 3 wherein each post has a recess adjacent each blade forming said shelf whereby a single lid is released from said stack when said plurality of posts are rotated. 
     
     
       5. The system according to claim 1 in which said lid dispenser has a chute for receiving each released lid; a ledge at an opening to said chute for tilting each lid to a vertical position; and positioning means in said chute for positioning a lid to be placed on a container as it passes. 
     
     
       6. The system according to claim 2 in which said means for holding a stack of lids comprises; a plurality of guides; a plurality of rotatable posts; and a shelf formed at the end of said plurality of posts. 
     
     
       7. The system according to claim 6 in which said plurality of rotatable posts have a serrated section and a smaller diameter smooth offset section; said serrated section having a plurality of serrations constructed to hold said stack of lids while a single lid is being released from the bottom of said stack. 
     
     
       8. The system according to claim 7 in which said shelf is formed by a plurality of sectional blades mounted at the bottom of said posts; said sectional blades being at the bottom of said off set smooth section of said posts. 
     
     
       9. The system according to claim 8 including a recess at the bottom of said posts for releasing the bottom lid of said stack when said posts and sectional blades are rotated. 
     
     
       10. The system according to claim 9 in which said positioning means comprises a gate at the end of said chute; said gate being formed by a gravity operated weight holding a lid partially extended from said chute whereby a lid is removed from said lid dispensing means by the rim of a container catching the edge of said lid in said gate. 
     
     
       11. The system according to claim 10 in which said sensing means comprises a photoconductor in said chute sensing the removal of a lid; and a proximity detector for detecting the rotation of said posts; whereby when a lid is removed said posts are turned one revolution to release another lid. 
     
     
       12. The system according to claim 1 including lid closure means for closing a tear strip band on said lid after it is mounted on a container; said lid closure means comprising a belt engaging a side of said lid to rotate said lid and container; and means for squeezing said tear band beneath the periphery of said lid. 
     
     
       13. The system according to claim 12 including lubricating means lubricating said belt to facilitate rotation of said container with said lid during closure. 
     
     
       14. The system according to claim 1 in which said heating means comprises a pair of manifolds on either side of said conveyor belt for heating the edge of said lid; and means for slowly rotating said lid and container as it passes by said heating means. 
     
     
       15. The system according to claim 14 in which said means for slowly rotating said lid and container comprises a thin stationary plate engaging one side of the bottom of said container while the other side rests on said conveyor belt. 
     
     
       16. The system according to claim 15 in which said pair of manifolds have a length equal to at least the circumference of the bottom of said container. 
     
     
       17. The system according to claim 14 including means for adjusting the position of at least one of said manifolds; a deflector plate for attachment to one of said manifolds to deflect heat downward; whereby a plastic shrink band may be sealed around the lid of a container. 
     
     
       18. A lid dispenser for dispensing lids to be mounted on a container comprising; lid stack holding means comprised of guides, a plurality of rotatable posts, and shelf means at the end of said posts;   means for rotating said rotatable posts to release a lid one at a time;   a chute for receiving each lid as it is released;   lid positioning means for positioning a lid to be placed on a passing container; and   sensing means for sensing removal of a lid and releasing the next lid.   
     
     
       19. The lid dispenser according to claim 18 in which said rotatable posts comprise; a post having a serrated section around a portion of the diameter and an off set smooth portion around the remaining diameter of said posts; said serrations constructed and arranged to hold a stack of lids while one lid is released from the bottom. 
     
     
       20. The system according to the lid dispenser according to claim 19 in which said sensing means comprises; a photodetector in said chute for detecting the removal of a lid; and a proximity sensor to stop rotation of said posts after a lid is released.